The Website of Carlos Whitlock Porter

USE OF GERMAN VERB "AUSROTTEN" IN
FILM "KOLBERG"

A very interesting use of the verb
"ausrotten" appears in the German film KOLBERG, filming of which
began in 1942. The action takes place during the Napoleonic wars. The film
tells the true story of a small village which resisted Napoleon's armies when
all the larger fortresses had surrendered.

In the film, the mayor of Kolberg, Joachim
Nettelbeck, played by Heinrich George (tortured to death in Buchenwald by the
Communists after the war) is discussing surrender with members of the town
council.

Translation: "What would happen to a people that said,
come, 'Napoleon, you are so much more powerful and stronger than we are, come
and rule over us'? It would destroy itself, and it would deserve nothing better
than to be destroyed!"

I don't think this means that any nation of people craven
enough to surrender to Napoleon without fighting would build gas chambers for
itself and commit suicide to the point of becoming extinct; I take it to mean
that the verb "ausrotten" can be used more or less figuratively, even
with regards to people.